Drive for motor vehicles



om. 7, 1969 A. MAGG ETAL 3,470,766

,DRIVE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 27, 1967 Alfred Mo 9 Friedrichchreiner Inventors Attorney United States Patent Im. c1. F16h 57/06,57/02 US. Cl. 74-665 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates primarily to four-wheel drive vehicles having a multispeed gearshift and distributor gear which divides the power flow equally to thefront and rear axles. A particular feature of the invention resides in ahousing arrangement for the multispeed gear mechanism and thedistributor gear mechanism, each having a respective housing and thehousings having complementary openings so that the distributor gearhousing can be secured to the multispeed gear shift housing with theopenings in register. Thus, the multispeed gear shift mechanism can beused for a two axle drive, i.e., a four-wheel drive vehicle, or thedistributor gear housing can be removed, and the opening in the housingfor the gear shift mechanism covered with a plate. The multispeed gearshift mechanism can then be used for a single axle drive vehicle.

There have been prior art arrangements of multispeed gear shiftmechanisms and distributor gear mechanisms, but in all such prior artmechanisms the assembly is such that there is no optional use of themultispeed gear shift for either a multi-axle drive or a single axledrive. Further, prior art arrangements do not afford the advantages ofcompactness achieved in the present invention.

Briefly, the invention comprises a multispeed gear shift mechanism in ahousing having a bottom opening and a distributor gear mechanism in ahousing having a top opening, such openings being complementary andregistrable so that the housings can be assembled by suitable flanges,thereby achieving in effect a single housing. Power flow from the gearshift mechanism is effected by meshing a gear of the last group thereofwith a connecting gear which drives the distributor gear mechanism.Thus, the connecting gear is of sufficient diameter to protrude into thegear shift mechanism housing when the two housings are coupled to eachother, to mesh with a gear on a countershaft of the final speed changegear group.

A detailed description of the invention now follows in conjunction withthe appended drawing which is a primarily schematic diagram of the gearmechanisms and the respective housings in longitudinal section, butindicating the flanged construction of the housings.

Referring to the drawing, the input shaft 1 from the engine (not shown)brings power into a multispeed gear mechanism H having a housing 10 andan intermediate shaft 2 which will be understood to be driven throughone or more gear groups (not shown) so as to bring power flow to thefinal gear group G.

Power flow from the gear group G is transmitted to the distributor gearV to drive the transmission shafts 16 and 18, all in a manner to beexplained, having the coupling flanges 22 and 24, respectively, forfront and rear drive connection to the vehicle axles (not shown).

The gear group G is comprised of the gear pairs 4, S and 6, 7 whereingears 5 and 7 are keyed to the countershaft 9. Gear 4 is freely rotativeon shaft 2 and can be 3,470,766 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 coupled thereto(as shown) by means of the dog clutch coupling 8 for selective speedchange in a well known manner. A driven shaft 3 carries the gear 6 keyedthereto and power flow can thus go from shaft 2 through the two gearpairs to shaft 3 when clutch 8 is coupled to the left in order to drivea transmission shaft coupling 25 when it is desired to use mechanism Hwith single axle drive.

Direct drive from shaft 2 to shaft 3 is effected by moving clutchcoupling 8 to the right.

In such case, the bottom opening 11 of housing 10 will be understood tobe closed with any suitable cover (not shown).

When the gear H is to be used for multi-axle drive, the distributor gearV carried in the housing 30 is then assembled to the housing 10 by meansof the flanges F and F, any securing means such as bolts B, or the like,being utilized. Thus, the opening 11 at the bottom of housing 10 isgenerally complementary to and in register with the opening 27 shown atthe top of housing 30 to serve the assembly purpose.

The distributor gear mechanism comprises a planetary differential geardevice P and has a gear 13 of sufficient diameter to protrude into thehousing 10 so as to mesh with the gear 7 therein. The carrier for theplanetary gear device is coupled to gear 13, which gear also has atubular shaft 12 concentric with shaft 16 and connected to the lock-upclutch 20 likewise on shaft 16. When the lock-up clutch 20 is engaged,the sun gear 14 is locked to the carrier so that the planetary devicerotates as a block, and shafts 16 and 18 for fore and aft transmissionare positively coupled. Otherwise, the differential device is free tofunction as such in order to distribute power via the sun gear and shaft16 forwardly and via the orbit gear 15 and shaft 18 rearwardly,permitting relative rotation of shafts 16 and 18. Positive couplingmeets conditions of wheel slippage on ice or snow or slippery terrain.

From the above description it will be apparent that the gear mechanism Hcan be readily used either for multiaxle or single axle drive.

It will be understood that any suitable speed may be selected by themechanism H for power flow through gear group G. However, a change inspeed via gear group G can be effected by shifting clutch 8 to theright, or left, in a well known manner so as to provide a dual speedselection directly for the distributor gear.

We claim:

1. A drive for a motor vehicle for optional two axle or single axledrive, comprising a multispeed gear shift mechanism and a distributorgear mechanism, a respective housing for each of said mechanisms, saidhousings having complemental openings, said housings being assembled toeffect meshing gears between said mechanisms through said openings,whereby said distributor gear housing may be bodily removed from thehousing of said multispeed gear shift mechanism.

2. In a drive as set forth in claim 1, said distributor gear mechanismhaving a gear extending beyond the opening of the respective housing soas to protrude into the housing of the multispeed gear shift mechanismwhen said housings are assembled for meshing with a gear of saidmultispeed gear shift mechanism.

3. A drive as set forth in claim 1, said distributor gear mechanismcomprising a differential gear having a sun gear, planet carrier andplanet gears, and an orbit gear; said sun gear being on a shaft adaptedfor driving one axle of a vehicle and said orbit gear being on a shaftfor driving another axle; and a lockup means carried on said sun gearshaft connected for optionally effecting block rotation of saiddifferential gear so that said axles are locked for simultaneousrotation.

4. A drive as set forth in claim 1, said multispeed gear shift mechanismcomprising, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft for connection to a loadfor power transmission from said drive shaft through said multispeedgear shift transmission independently of said distributor gearmechanism.

5. A drive as set forth in claim 2, said distributor gear mechanismcomprising a differential gear having a sun gear, planet carrier, andorbit gear; and shaft means whereby said sun gear and orbit gear areconnected for drive of respective axles, said gear of said distributorgearing which protrudes above the housing thereof being connected tosaid planet carrier.

6. A drive as set forth in claim 1, one of said mechanisms having aconnecting gear protruding beyond the opening of the respective housingto mesh with a gear in the other housing.

7. A drive as set forth in claim 6, said gear shift mechanism "having aspeed selective gear group with a countershaft and a gear thereon, saidconnecting gear being in mesh with said countershaft gear, saiddistributor gear mechanism comprising a planetary differential geardevice having a planet carrier and said connecting gear being securedthereto for rotation thereof.

8. A drive as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sun, planet and orbitgears are spur gears.

9. A drive as set forth in claim 5, wherein said sun, planet and orbitgears are spur gears.

10. A drive as set forth in claim 7, wherein said differential geardevice comprises sun, planet and orbit gears, all said gears being spurgears.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,399,201 4/1946 Buckendale et a174-665 2,601,297 6/1952 Keese 74-665 X 3,191,708 6/1965 Simonds et al74-665 X ARTHUR T. MCKEON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 74-701

